Cody Walker stars in a stunt-led tribute to car culture, with the all-electric V23 put through a series of demanding driving sequences.
A boxy electric SUV is not the obvious choice for a drift film. Neither is sending one down seven to eight flights of stairs, sliding it through narrow city streets or putting it alongside a Nissan GT-R R34 and Honda S2000.
That is the premise of Wuhu Drift, a new film featuring Cody Walker, brother of the late Paul Walker, and created as a tribute to the car culture popularised by the Fast & Furious franchise.
At the centre of the film is the iCAUR V23, an all-electric SUV that takes on a series of demanding stunt sequences using its standard powertrain.
According to the production team, the driving scenes were filmed practically, without visual effects. The V23 is shown drifting through confined city streets, running in formation with other cars, accelerating through tunnels and completing a multi-storey stair descent.
Drift cars are typically low, light and set up specifically for rapid weight transfer and sustained slides. The V23 comes from a very different starting point, with the proportions, ride height and suspension requirements of an SUV.
Despite that, the production vehicle completed the stunt sequences on its standard chassis architecture, powertrain and body structure. The film places particular emphasis on steering response, power delivery and chassis control as the V23 moves through tight, high-speed sequences and close-proximity manoeuvres.
The film car itself is considerably more dramatic than the standard V23. It features a wide-body kit, oversized carbon-fibre rear wing, auxiliary roof lighting, side aero elements, white multi-spoke wheels and a geometric racing livery.
The modifications draw on the V23’s modular construction. Components such as the front bumper, fender flares and roof-mounted elements can be replaced or fitted with accessories without cutting or drilling into the original body structure.
That modularity extends across the vehicle, with more than 20 mounting points positioned on the roof, dashboard, D-pillars and chassis. These can accommodate items such as roof racks, side ladders, crossbars, console mounts, and cargo accessories.
The roof rack has a static load capacity of up to 200 kg, while removable fender flares allow for different wheel and tyre configurations. Mounting points around the D-pillars provide further options for touring and overlanding equipment.
The V23’s modular design also gives owners scope to personalise the vehicle, with a range of exterior components and mounting points designed to accommodate accessories without permanent modification.
“Wuhu Drift shows the V23 in a completely different environment from the one people might expect from an electric SUV. It allowed us to demonstrate its performance and underlying engineering, while also having some fun with the design and customisation possibilities of the car,” said Shannon Gahagan, National Brand and Marketing Manager of OMODA & JAECOO and iCAUR South Africa.
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